Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-03-14


A great affection sprang up between
the two girls, both of the same age,
though in such different stations.
Ailia and her grandfather did not
live in the crowded tenement any
longer, but had pleasant rooms in
quiet street.
Old Signor Paulo never recovered
enough to leave his bed; but as he felt
the pangs of approaching dissolution
he did not feel the depth of anguish at
leaving Ailia that he must have suffer-
ed if she had not proved herself so well
able to care for her own future
At first his grandchild sorrowed
bitterly; but as time went on she felt
that it was better as it was, and that
not for worlds would she, if she could,
recall her dear grandfather back to his
weary couch of pain.
Four years had passed; and from
slight child Ailia had developed rapid
ly into the rounded curves of woman
hood. She was beautiful. with the
dark clear skin of her Italian parent
age, and the masses of raven-black
hair which waved back from II low
broad forehead. Her great, lustrous,
almond-lidded eyes had in them a
strange charm, and few could look into
their depths without longing to
read yet more plainly their Utmost
thoughts.
At least so felt Percy Montrose. Re-
served to others, to him Ailia was par
ticularly cold and shy, nothwithstand-
ing she recognized his manly, frank
nature, and knew well that to snone
other did her soul 90 out as it did to
the handsome impulsiye young man,
the son of her patroness; but she knew
the pride of birth and family which
filled his mothers heart, and so she
resolutely hid her love.
AT last the end came. 1t was morn
ing, and Ailia had been playing.
Wrapt in thoughts which were
sweet, yet sad as the strain whose
cadence yet fingered upon the air,
Percy found her.
1t was an unguarded moment. She
could hide her heart no longer
And when he had once won from
her the assurance of her love, her pas
sionate Italian nature asserted itself,
and as her lover clasped his arms
around her, with burst of tears, and
an inarticulate expression of tender
ness, she laid her head against his
heart, and then, and not till then, did
Percy feel sure of the prize he had
coveted so earnestly.
But Ailia was not suffered to live
long in her dream of bliss. The proud
lady who had constituted herself her
patroness took matters into her own
hands. What she said Aiia knew not
All unheeded. the storm of anger
passed over her head, until a sentence,
bitterly expressed and seornfully spok-
en-, arrested her attention.
Like thief you stole into my
house-wound Your tolls around nv
boy; he sees ii. too. since | have open
Ell his eyes. He himself sent me here
to demand his release from this foolish
engagement.
With bated breath Ailia waited I'M
til she had finished, and then, rising.
she drew her superb form to its foil
height, and met the angry light of the
cold English blue eyes with the Italian
dusk Of her own.
Your son wishes to be release.
from his troth2 Is what you have just
said tr,ie2'
Most certainly | am sure YOU
need not be surprised, Miss Paulo.
when YOU think of the great disparity
there is between your stations in So
Getty
II was over. Ailia had given back
the ring, the symbol of their attach
mcnt, to Mrs Montrose
Alone in her room she battled with
her heart-wilh its intense longing to
see Percy once more, and hear from
his own lips that what his mother had
said was untrue.
But TO her spirit falschood was UNI
suspected a. it was unknown. and she
felt that she mast never look upon his
face again.
For 4 long time it was source of
wonder as to where the talented. bean
tiful Young music-teaeher had vanish
Ell. 50 suddenly had she gone
4 few years passed. Mr., Montrose
and her son and daughter were travel
ing abroad. Anxiety for Percy had
engraved deep wrinkles upon his
mothers once smooth brow
He was not the merry impulsiye Percy
OF Did; his face was grave and pale.
AMI lis friends, "a they passed him.
shook their heads.
Long ago, Mrs. Montrose had re-
pented of what she had donc-of the
cruel falSehood which had wrecked
han. s,,,t h.nninas. an1 ,l,.;,-..,, IN,